Little Red & the Renegadeshold an important position as far as the greater Washington DC area's love for the music of Southwest Louisiana and New Orleans. They were one of the first (if not the first) in the area to perform it for us.

The background history of the Renegades takes us to Syracuse NY where longtime friends Tom Corradino (Little Red) and guitarist Harry Rado were founders of the band Bad Medicine in 1968. After a good run the band broke up in 1975. Harry moved to DC and Tom followed his love for Louisiana music down to New Orleans. While there he basked in as many Professor Longhairand Clifton Chenierperformances he could attend. He had first heard Zydeco in 1967 on the Clifton Chenier Arhoolie LP that inspired him greatly and thus became one of the first non-Creoles in the country to perform Zydeco. After his stint in New Orleans he moved to DC and looked up his friend Harry Rado. He did a stint playing accordion with Tex Rubinowitz and His Bad Boys and piano with a Haitian band, Las Pachas before joining with Harry to form Little Red & the Renegades in 1982. At 42 years and counting this makes their pairing one of the longest continuous music collaborations you will find.

First editions of the Renegades included saxophonist Derek Huston before he joined the Uptown Rhythm Kings. Derek introduced them to fellow Langley HS classmates saxophonist Chris Watling and trumpeter Alan MacEwan who became Renegades before they were Grandsons. The current lineup includes bassist Dave Petersen working with the band since the late 80’s, Jon Danforth who has worked with the band for 15 years, and steel drum player Carol Arthur who joined up 5 years ago. When he plays Haydee’s Restaurant it becomes my one regular chance to work out on the fratoire (rub board). I picked up my chops working with the late Zydeco legend Roy Carrier.

If you happen to be in New Orleans Thursday night December 15, head over the the Mid-City Lanes Rock & Bowl where Chubby Carrier will be doing a tribute to his father the late Zydeco Legend Roy Carrier. Chubby did such a show at the beginning of September and totally blew the roof off the Surf Club here in DC. Tell your friends if they want to pass an incredibly great dancing time – Go to this show!

Due in from the printers is the next very limited edition (only 100 copies) of KEEPING ROY’S DREAM ALIVE II. There will be a few copies that I will advance sale when they arrive before I send the balance down to Louisiana to be sold at Dikki Du’s New Years Day Fundraiser for the Offshore Lounge. The collection is 17 songs big and contains some cuts that were not on any of Roy’s regular CDs and a couple that have never before been issued.

ZYDECO MUSIC LEGEND GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Free Performance to pay tribute to the late Roy Carrier by Grammy Award Winning Artist Chubby Carrier

Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band are bringing their Grammy-award winning brand of swamp-funky zydeco music to the East Coast. During this rare East Coast appearance, Carrier will take a night to pay a special tribute to his Dad, pioneering zydeco legend Roy Carrier, with a fan appreciation party at Surf Club Live, in Edmonston, Maryland.
During his lengthy career, the elder Roy developed a large and devoted fan base on the East Coast, and Surf Club Live was a regular gig. Chubby says, “Since my father’s death in 2010, his fans have expressed tremendous love and support to our family.” To show his gratitude, Chubby will pay tribute to his Dad by giving a free show. “I want to show the fans how much I appreciate them supporting my dad.” Carrier says.When Roy played Surf Club Live, the place just pulsated with the energy of his music. The Washington Post described Roy’s signature style as a “raucous and relentless invitation to dance. “ “That’s what Chubby promises this night will be,” added Wayne Kahn, Roy’s long-time friend and producer. If you are a fan or even if you have never heard zydeco before, this is a night not to be missed.
Come see why they say “Ain’t no party like a Chubby party when a Chubby party goin’ on cause a Chubby party don't stop!!”
Monday, September 19, 2011Surf Club Live
4711 Kenilworth Ave
Edmonston, MD 20781
Showtime 7:00pm
FREE Admissionwww.chubbycarrier.com <http://www.chubbycarrier.com/> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chubby-Carrier-and-the-Bayou-Swamp-Band-Official-Site/215504295070 <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chubby-Carrier-and-the-Bayou-Swamp-Band-Official-Site/215504295070> www.surfclublive.com/ <http://www.surfclublive.com/> www.facebook.com/surfclublive <http://www.facebook.com/surfclublive> www.youtube.com/surfclublive <http://www.youtube.com/surfclublive> info@surfclublive.com <mailto:info@surfclublive.com> Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band have been sharing this indigenous Louisiana music to the world since 1989. After traveling to four continents, logging 275 dates per year, over a 22 year span, the band received the highest honor in the music industry, a Grammy Award. The 2010 Best Cajun or Zydeco Album, “Zydeco Junkie”.

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And I Add a Little Background:

Larry Beniciewics of Baltimore was the first person from the area to search out Roy Carrier and convinced him to come up to the DC/Baltimore area in I think 1992. I first saw Roy at Mark Gretchl's Tornado Alley and became a fast and dedicated fan. Roy had a 2 night Thursday Friday gig at Tornado Alley and I was there both nights in 93. The next day he played Alonzo's Eat the Rich picnic in Baltimore and I drove up 95 to catch him again. He recognized me from being a zydeco dance crazy when I got the chance to talk with him after his set. He had some T-shirts that he had been selling but had run out by the time I asked to buy one. He took my name and address and mailed me one when he returned home.

The last week of April 1996, I took delivery of the first Right on Rhythm CD, The Blues You Would Just Hate To Lose Vol I on my way to Jazzfest so the very first place anyone saw the disc was in New Orleans that year. I ran into Roy at a mid-week party and immediately handed him a disc saying "Here Roy, this is a CD full of blues bands playing live in the clubs around DC & Baltimore that you can check out when you come up north" His immediate response floored me. It was, "why don't you record me when I come up to DC". That was the very beginning of a long relationship with Roy and his family. I began taping him every chance I got on his trips to the area and from those tapes the CD Nasty Girls was created with the Washington Post calling it a Raucous and Relentless invitation to dance. In the late 90's with Claudia leading the way we fought a publishing battle on his behalf with the result being that Roy gained control over all of his publishing and began to see a return on the years worth of recordings that pre-dated the Right on Rhythm years. The Mid-Atlantic is home to one of Roy's most devout followings and continued to support him through the years. Chubby recognizes this and it is his way to give something back.

I say THANK YOU back to Chubby for this great treat he is sending our way. He is doing this gig out of his own pocket covering hotel & van rental

Little Red & the Renegades will be doing their Louisiana thing (1/2 New Orleans & 1/2 Zydeco) tonight, August 12th… FRIDAY …. at Haydee's Restaurant in Mt Pleasant DC. (please disregard the date on the artwork below, it is indeed August 12th)